Laura's Loop: Weaving in Your Ends

I have some good news. And, I have some bad news. Good news first: there is no one right way to weave in your ends. So, chances are, you haven't been doing it wrong! Now the bad news: there are so many different ways to weave in your ends, you might not be doing it the best way either. 

Having options, it's a blessing and a curse. While options allow us a certain freedom, they also give us cause for doubt and uncertainty! Sure, as knitters we do live by a few hard and fast rules (such as: no knots!), but for the most part, there is always another way to do it, no matter what it happens to be. This truth became abundantly clear during my days working at the Purl Soho shop. 

Some of our most seasoned customers would come in to find a knitting newbie at the communal table, finishing up a project in some newfangled kind of way. The old pro would sheepishly ask about it in an apologetic tone, pre-emptively saying "I know, I know I should know this." It turns out the most basic questions are the most common. And, so as simple as this tutorial may sound, it's not just for beginners! It's for everyone who has a creeping feeling of doubt whenever she or he tucks away those last stray tails, "Is this really how you do it?".

The perhaps unsettling truth is that there is probably another way to do whatever it is you are doing. It might not be a better way, just different. We all have our favorites. To help you pick yours, I've gathered together some of my favorite techniques for hiding ends. Some I picked up from the humbling-ly talented Joelle Hoverson, some from the witty Whitney of Whit's Knits, some from customers and of course a few from dear Mom. 

You can find our favorite examples of weaving in ends on a sockinette, garter and rib swatches in our Weaving In Ends Tutorial right here. We'd all love to hear if you have another favorite method! --Laura

PS: the pictures at the top of the post are from the following stories: Winter Hats for Everybody, Baby Girl Fair Isle Cardigan, Big Herringbone Cowl and Perfect Fit Socks.

Comments

[peacelovemath]

I would mainly like to know the source of the scarf in the lower right-hand corner above!! Whatever stitch that is looks like it would make a fabulous baby blanket.

[Susan]

I love this! Can you post something similar for crochet?

[Sarvi]

Where has this post been all my life!

[purl bee]

Hi Peacelovemath-

The scarf is our Big Herringbone Cowl. You can find it here: http://www.purlbee.com/big-herringbone-cowl/

Thanks!

[melissa]

Thankyou for this, as a largely self taught knitter other than some basics as a child I have often wonder the best way to weave in ends. Thankyou

[Melissa]

Did you read my mind??? I am nearly finished with a top-down, tunic style hoodie sweater knit from a soft wool/cotton blend. I was wishing last night for some info on weaving in ends. This sweater has no seams in which to bury the ends and the yarn isn't as forgiving as the wool yarn I usually use. I'm knitting this sweater because the woven ends of the same sweater I knit from cotton/acrylic blend look so terrible, I decided I could only wear that sweater around the house. Thank you!

[jimbillsmum]

Thanks! My weaving in has always been adhoc so i am going to try some of these methods next time.

[Marte]

What is the source of the cardigans? They are lovely!

[Kathryn]

Thank you so much for this post! I've wondered for my whole knitting life if I was doing it right or if there was a better way. I am both comforted and enlightened. Thank you!

[Kristi]

Such a great topic. I have woven in plenty of ends, but also wonder if everyone else knows something I don't. When you take the time to knit a sweater by hand, you want it to last.

[z]

There are definately so many different ways to do things. Especially when it comes to knitting.

I guess that's the good or the bad thing about it. Depending on how you look at it.

[Dixie Ipsit]

Any chance you could add one more tutorial - how to weave in ends for lace? I just finished weaving in ends on a lace scarf made with a variegated yarn. My least successful end-weavings are with lace patterns, and variegated yarn made it that much worse.

Love your webpages!

[Deborah]

Thank you for this post. It comes at a time where I am ready to weave in ends. Being a new knitter, this is such a answer to prayer for me. I never knew exactly how to do it and now I do. hank you!

[Chelsea Talks Smack]

ooooo, I love this stuff!

[Samantha]

It seems as though the link for the tutorial is broken )-:

[purl bee]

Hi Samantha,
The link is fixed now, thanks for letting us know!